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USIA - Text: State Dept. Taken Question on Greek Minister's Aircraft, 97-10-21
From: The United States Information Agency (USIA) Home Page at <http://www.usia.gov>
TEXT: STATE DEPT. TAKEN QUESTION ON GREEK MINISTER'S AIRCRAFT
(Question concerning reported harassment by Turkey) (280)
Washington -- In a response to a taken question October 20, the State
Department said it has "no independent confirmation" of reported harassment
by Turkish aircraft of the Greek defense minister's aircraft en route to
and from Cyprus, but that "the accounts we have seen are disturbing."
The statement urged "all parties to the Cyprus problem to avoid steps that
complicate or detract from efforts to promote dialogue and negotiations,"
and reminded both sides of "the benefits of reinstituting a complete and
open-ended moratorium on military overflights of Cyprus."
Following is the State Department's response to the taken question:
(Begin text)
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE
Office of the Spokesman
October 20, 1997
REPORTED TURKISH INTERCEPTION OF GREEK DEFENSE MINISTER'S AIRCRAFT
Q: Can you add anything to your statements on October 16 and 20 that the
U.S does not know whether Turkish aircraft harassed the Greek Defense
Minister's aircraft en route to and from Cyprus?
A: We have no independent confirmation of these reported incidents. The
accounts we have seen are disturbing.
If Turkish aircraft flew provocatively close to the Greek Defense
Minister's aircraft, such action would not be consistent with Turkey's
stated desire to reduce tension with Greece.
As we have said before, we have long urged all parties to the Cyprus
problem to avoid steps that complicate or detract from efforts to promote
dialogue and negotiations. We would hope that all sides would appreciate
the benefits of reinstituting a complete and open-ended moratorium on
military overflights of Cyprus at the earliest possible time.
(End text)
From the United States Information Agency (USIA) Home Page at http://www.usia.gov
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